Portable scaffolding



y 1. 1954 R. A. MASSE 2,678,243

PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Filed May 20, 1952 2/ J 37.] a 40 I 5.9 44 43 v I I o I 7 v 56. go I;

INVENTOR. 4/Q/VCZS3Q ATTORNEYS,

Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,678,243 PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Rene A. Masse, Central Falls, R. I. Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,819

This is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 142,431, filed February 4, 1950, now abandoned, for Portable Scaffolding Device.

In the above-entitled application the scaffolding shown therein when used in connection with a ladder was suspended by a rung thereof. Consequently, the entire weight of the scaffolding plus that of a person thereon was supported wholly by the said rung. The supporting of a scafiolding of this character'wholly by the rungs of a ladder is not safe and therefore is objectionable.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable scaffolding which is so constructed as to be engageable with the side uprights of a ladder to be supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable scaffolding which is so constructed as to be engageable with the side uprights of a ladder in such a manner that a jamming action will be had between the device securing means and the side uprights of the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable scaifolding having a frame construc tion which may be adjustable so as to the platform thereon generally horizontal.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Figure l is a View in perspective showing a scaffolding embodying my invention and attached to a ladder;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-4. of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in section showing an adaptation of the device to be used in connection with a wi; opening in a building.

In carryin out my invention, I provide a frame for supporting a platform generally horizontal and provide for attaching the frame to the sides or uprights of a ladder'in a manner so that one portion of the frame will engage the said uprights on the rear side, and another rear portion of the frame will engage the uprights on the merit between the said-frame and ladder uprights so that the scafiolding will'be" wholly supported by the uprights thereby relieving any strain on the" rungsof theladder"whemweight is applied.

Referring to the drawings for amore detailed 5 Claims. (01. 30431.5)

description of the invention, in designates generally a scairolding comprising a frame Ii which may be made of a continuous length of rod or tubing material. The length of tubing is bent a generally U shape so as to provide a straight hight portion ii. to extend generally horizoni: 113; and leg portions 13. Each leg portion 13 ent to form a pair of substantially parallel V shape side frames extending in a general vertical plane, each having a lower foot portion I4 extending at right angles to said bight i2 forthereof, an arm [5 extending parallel to the portion it, and an upwardly inclined portion it joining said arm and foot portions. A brace It may be provided and attached to the foot portion Hi and arm i5 to strengthen the said frame.

The arms is extend from the portion i6 rearwardly to a substantial distance beyond the bight i2. Each free end portion of the arm l5 has a plurality of equally spaced openings IT in line with each other and which extend diametrically through the walls of said arm (see Figure 3). ihere is mounted on each of said arms l5 at the free end portions thereof a support member 53 which has a bore [9 therethrough through which the arm passes. The support 58 has a right angularly extending projection or boss 2d thereon having a small bore 2! therethrough is intersected by the bore 59. The boss 25 also has a second bore 22 of a larger diameter which extends inwardly therein. A spring pressed plunger 23 to be hereinafter more fully described is received ,in said bore 2i to pass through any of the openings H which may be positioned in register with said pin 23 to lock the arm i5 in adjusted position on the support 18. A ladder rung engaging hooi: designated 25 is also made of a single length of tubing which is bent into a generally U shape so as to provide a straight bight portion 25 and leg' portions 2? (see Figure 1). Each leg portion ii is bent to form a pair of generally V-shape side portions (best seen in Figures 2 and 5), each having a mounting armportion 2'9 (see Figure 3) which extends generally parallel to the bight 26. The hook 25 is positioned to extend between the supports it with the arms thereof received in the bore 22 and there secured as by means of pin fastening 3Q. loci; pin 23 has a head portion 31 which may be formed separate as shown and fastened to the pin-2i in any appropriate manner. The head 3i has an arm 3?: provided with an opening through which passes the adjacent arm portion it. a compression spring 33 is positioned between the arm 32 and an abutment washer 34 seating against the bend between arm 2? and mounting portion 29 so as to bias the said pin 2-3 in the locked position thereof. I

A floor or platform 35 is supported on the arms is between the supports [8 and is detachably secured thereon by means of spring clip fastenings I '35 '(see Figure 4). These springs 36 have resilient arms 31 which snap over the arms l so as to resiliently hold said platform in position. The clips are secured to the platform such as by means of a rivet fastening 38. Thus, the platform 35 may be removed from the frame 1 i when attaching the scaffolding in position on the ladder, when ascending the ladder, or for other purposes. The scaffolding is also provided with an upper supporting rail designated generally 39 which may be formed of a continuous length of tubing or rod bent as best seen in Figure 1 on a curvature as at 49 to provide a front portion of the rail and extending therefrom as at 4 to provide side rail portions. The curved portion 49 is provided with a wall portion 12 which preferably may be made of sheet material and attached to the tubing in any convenient manner so as to depend therefrom. Sockets d3 are attached to each side frame portion of the frame I! and receive uprights 4A, the upper ends of which are flattened as at 45, to which flattened portions is attached the Wall 42 as by means of rivet fastenings 46 (see Figure 1).

In mounting the scaifolding on a ladder, the supports 18 with the hook 25 are positioned on the rear side of the ladder uprights with the hook portion 25 placed through the ladder above a rung R of the ladder, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The frame portion H may then be received in the supports IS in adjusted position thereon. Bight I2 will rest against the ladder uprights on the opposite sides thereof from that of the projections 29 on the supports 18. As previously stated, the weight of the scaffolding will be mostly forward of the bight portion 12 or forward of the point of engagement of the scaffolding on the ladder, and this will over-balance the scaffolding in a manner to tend to rock the same about the point of engagement of the bight 52 as a fulcrum to tend to move the projections or bosses into further engagement with the opposite sides of the uprights, thus providing a jamming relation between the scaffolding and the said uprights. Thus, the weight of the scaffolding is removed from the ladder rung engaged by the hook and the scaffolding is supported wholly on the said ladder uprights. The hook 25 provides for preventing any tendency of the scaffolding to slip along the ladder uprights prior to the full assembly thereof on the ladder'and before weight is applied. It will be appreciated that any weight such as a person standing on the platform 25 will further jam the scaffolding on to the ladder.

When it is desired to use or adapt a scaffolding to be used in connection with a window opening,

the supports 18 are turned end upon end as shown in Figure 5. In this position the hook 25 will be in place to engage the inner framework ii of the window opening and the bight [2 to engage against the outer wall d8 of the building. In a similar manner the weight of the scaffolding will be distributed so that it will tend to rock the scaffolding about the bight 12 to swing the hook 25 into tighter or more secure engagement with the said frame portion 4?, thus eliminating any usual hook or screw clamping arrangement of the prior scaffolding structures.

I claim:

1. A portable scaffold comprising a frame including a pair of parallel arms for horizontal disposition, a slidable member received on each of said arms, said members having right angularly extending projections adapted to be positioned on the inner side of an inclined ladder, to engage against the adjacent side uprights of the ladder and being adjustably secured to said arms, a hook member attached to each of said projections, said hook members being coupled therebetween and adapted to be passed through the ladder above a rung on said ladder to suspend said slidable member on said ladder, two braces each having generally horizontal end portions depending from each of said arms to be positioned beneath the same to engage against the outer side of said uprights to provide a fulcrum point engagement with said uprights, and a platform detachably secured to said frame to be at a position thereon outwardly of said fulcrum whereby the weight of said scaffold will tend to rock said frame about said fulcrum to swing said projections against said rails to support said device Wholly by a jamming engagement of said brace and projections with the said side uprights of the ladder.

2. In a portable scaffold as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame and brace are made of a continuous length of material.

3. A portable scafiold device adapted to be supported on a ladder comprising a continuous length of tubular material bent into a general U shape to provide a straight bight portion and opposite leg portions, said bight portion being adapted to extend across the uprights of a ladder on one side thereof and in engagement there with, each of said leg portions being bent to form a pair of parallel V-shaped portions having an upper arm extending rearwardly and beyond said bight portion, each arm being provided with a tubular member adjustably secured thereon, said tubular members each being provided with an inward right angular projection adapted to be positioned on the other side of said uprights in engagement therewith, a generally U-shape hook attached to said projections to extend therebetween to engage an upper rung of the ladder to suspend said device from the ladder, and a platform supported by said arms at a location thereon to be above said bight outwardly therefrom with reference to said ladder whereby the weight of said scaffold will be positioned mostly on one side of the bight to tend to rock said device about the fulcrum point formed by the bight engaging said uprights to move said projections into further engagement with the uprights and am said device on the said uprights.

4. In a portable scaffold device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said top arms have spaced openings therethrough and a spring pressed lock pin carried by each of said tubular members is adapt ed to engage any of said openings to adjustably secure said arms to said tubular members.

5. In a portable scaffold device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hook is a continuous length of material bent into a general U shape providing a pair of spaced arms each of which is attached to one of said projections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1, 59,368 Embree Nov. 9, 1915 1,305,922 Moller June 3, 1919 1,760,803 Wirth May 27, 1930 2,059,739 Ment et al Nov, 3, 1936 2,104,982 Forester Jan. 11, 1938 ,167,982 Kerber Aug. 1, 1939 2219,6 12 Whiteman Oct. 29, 1940 2,467,424 Bucher et a1. Apr. 19, 1949 2,532,590 Anastasi Dec. 5, 1950 2,560,122 Moats July 10, 1951 

